Okanagan Wine Country

Whether you like wine a little, or a lot, I highly recommend driving a few hours out of Vancouver to see the spectacular wine region we have, right in our own backyard.  We got back yesterday evening from touring up and down Highway 97 for 4 days on our 6th Annual Wine Country Weekend. This year, it was bigger and better than ever. While organizing the food, accomodations, transportation and general "how's everyone doing?" for 8 people was not easy, it was surely a weekend none of us will soon forget.  We can't wait til next year!

We visited 28 wineries and thanks to Anthony's calculations, had an estminated 170 ounces each between all the tastings we did over 4 days. That doesn't include the wine consumed after the wineries closed in the comfort of the Tinhorn Creek Guesthouse. We stayed 2 nights and counted 20 bottles in the recycling bin. Oops. I suppose that is why I gained 5 pounds this trip.

Each year we budget around $1500 and come back with approximately 100 bottles of wine. We do this trip every year with the intention of stock-piling some chrisp whites for hot summer evenings, and some big, bold reds for long, cold winters.  You definitely don't need to buy this much to enjoy yourself up there though.

So, a look into our trip and some tricks of the trade to get you up there and wanting to go back again and again!

• We start in Osoyoos. Not sure why, just always have. We usually stay in the area (Tinhorn Creek) and then slowly make our way up the 97 to Kelowna over the course of  2 or 3 days.
• Tinhorn is unfortunately not available to the public. If you are an industry professional, try to weasle your way in any way you can. It's gorgeous. They have 2 guest condos and one large guesthouse with pool, BBQs, bocce, full kitchen etc.
• If you can't get an industry connection, stay at Spirit Ridge or Burrowing Owl. Neither are cheap but well worth the money. If you're not looking for such high-end accomodations, there are plenty of hotels in Osoyoos. The Westridge Motor Inn is a lovely, clean little place right before you enter town.
• Dining in the area - Hester Creek, Burrowing Owl and Tinhorn have amazing restaurants. Dine at BO for lunch on the patio, and Miradoro at Tinhorn for dinner. Miradoro is a partnership with the owner of Le Gavroche in Vancouver. Umberto Menghi is cooking for people at Hester Creek this weekend. Hard to argue with that. If that's not your style, there are great little pubs and family-run restaurants in town. We personally BBQ on the Tinhorn deck and it's amazing. Huge cookouts every evening loaded with steak, chicken, seafood, appies, and fondue. Spirit Ridge and Burrowing Owl provides BBQs as well.

Must sees from Osoyoos to OK Falls include:

1. Nk'Mip (A lovely property. They have a restuarant as well with an amazing deck over-looking Osoyoos. Wines are a bit over-priced but decent quality and worth tasting)
2. Burrowing Owl (expensive but great quality wine. A lovely property and restaurant)
3. Silver Sage (amazing and exclusive; can only purchase from the winery. The Romanian owners are hilarious and will pour everything they sell!)
4. Tinhorn Creek (We are biased but a fabulous selection of quality wine and a gorgeous spot)
5. Hester Creek (A great selection and excellent prices. Beautiful tasting room and amazing Syrah)
6. Gehringer Bros (great prices and huge selection for beginners)
7. Wild Goose (A little operation with one of the best whites around. "Autumn Gold" will please just about anyone, wine drinker or not. They also have some great Reislings and Gewurtz)
8. Blasted Church (A fun place that offers a "Midnight Mass" and some great whites. They give an industry discount of 20% which is hard to come by.)

Moving right along, the Naramata Bench was a full day excursion. We knew this day would be good because there are some excellent places up in the bench.

Must see places in the Bench and Summerland:

1. La Frenz
2. Hillside (their Muscat Ottonel, Pinotage and Mosaic are very unique)
3. Red Rooster (Excellent price points and selection. They bottle just about every varietal but the chick behind the counter was a douche. Unfortunate.)
4. Lake Breeze
5. Elephant Island (Fruit winery. A charming little place and tastings are outside)
6. Laughing Stock (I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a must-see however if you have some extra cash, they make some decent wines, just very over-priced. Buy a Portfolio to cellar.)
7. Therapy (for nothing other than the Rose. I am not a Rose fan by any means [in fact, I strongly dislike and avoid them] however, I tolerated this one. The rest of their wine is terrible in my opinion. "Freud's Ego" used to be a favourite of ours but I have no idea what the hell has happened to it. It now smells like shit.)
8. Dirty Laundry (OH MY GOD! This place was completely renovated inside and out and it looks amazing. Plan your day so you end up here at lunch or snack time and pack a picnic to have on their fabulous patio. It has a cute little story behind it and their Gewurtz is amaing. Threadbare, Woo Woo Vines and Madams - there are 3 - are fantastic. They make a nice red blend called Bordello but it's too expensive in my opinion. You must go here. If you forget your basket of goodies don't worry, they sell everything and provide a basket for you to use!)
9. Thornhaven (a personal favourite of ours. A nice little place on the hillside in Summerland with a fantastic view. Often live entertainment on the weekends. Their Gewurtz is the best in Canada [award-winning] and they pour their entire selection for tastings. Not a huge Pinot Noir fan but theirs is great. Many whites to choose from and very reasonable prices.)
10. Sumac Ridge (first time there this year. Nothing to write home about but worth a stop. Good prices and selection. Good for beginners.)

Lastly is our day in Westbank/ Kelowna. After a fatal motorcycle accident on the Highway set us back an hour, we were on our way. We showed up to Mission Hill starving and ate at the Terrace. The food is actually fairly good. I expected it to be overly fussy based on the descriptions but everyone had a variety of different things, all of which they reported were good. It is not cheap but a nice outdoor dining experience.

1. Mission Hill (Mission Hill is Mission Hill but anyone who has been there knows it is an absolute must-see. It's extremely impersonal, commercialized and the people that work there think their shit doesn't stink but all in all, take a tour and tasting and learn a lot.  Their wine is generally fairly decent and widely available - no need to purchase it there. I recommend the premium tasting in the "salon" for $10. You will taste their premium selections (Legacy Series) such as Compendium, Perpetua, Quatrain, and the famous Oculus. I am an Oculus fan. It's a difficult toss up between Oculus and Nota Bene but for the price, Nota Bene is a better choice. Buy it to age it. Their "Small Lot Collection" [S.L.C] is pretty good as well. It is the largest, most well-kept property of all the wineries)
2. Quail's Gate (another large operation with a full restaurant. I didn't have such a great experience at the restaurant in the past but maybe it's improved. Lots of wine, friendly people, and a nice place. The reserve Old Vines Foch is worth the $40; buy it)
3. Little Straw (a small, family-run establishment owned by 3 brothers. Their wines are OK but they make a nice white blend called Tapestry)
4. St Hubertus
5. Cedar Creek (nice property but the guy pissed us off because he would only let us try one of the two series they offer. Go for the Platinum. Comparably, their wine is good but over-priced for the Platinum [their version of reserve])
6. Summerhill (I'd encourage you to check it out but not buy anything. Their Ehrenfelser is good and that's about it. Their wine is all organic so if that's your thing, I'm sure you'll love it. Expensive. They also carry one of the most expensive icewines in the region. At $200 a bottle, I shook my head in disbelief. Their "cheaper" ones for $100 and $150 all tasted the same.  Not sure what the deal is here but worth going for a tasting.

We stayed at the Penticton Lakeside resort in one of the VIP rooms and it was so nice! In Kelowna, the Manteo resort looks nice. There are a few Lakefront resorts in Kelowna but all come with a price. If you're concerned about money, any hotel will do. The Sandman is cheap and clean.

So, that's it. Sorry - I know it is a lot of information but I have more where that came from. I think I need to start carrying a book each year and make tasting notes as I go. 30 wineries at anywhere from 5-12 pours each is a lot of wine to remember. I did see one lady at La Frenz whip out her little book and my immediate reaction was 'what a dork' so...we'll see.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm no expert but can probably help. If you plan on being in the area at all this summer, bring a few friends and do a few tastings. It's so much fun!

Salute~

SkinnyGirl

Obviously this blog is not about me! I am a huge fan of Bethenny Frankel. She has built quite the empire for herself. Not only is she a great business woman, she’s fit, attractive, and wickedly hilarious. I was searching around for some sort of kick start to my new found need to lose weight (this need comes around every few months so, nothing shocking) and I found out that she has a new line of cleanse products! I was thrilled. This is HER brand with HER company name on it (SkinnyGirl). She is also very passionate about being healthy and fit. She started out as a personal chef and is now a reality star, author, and entrepreneur and not to mention new wife and mother. Her books are great. She offers some wonderful and tips and best of all, if you like her wit and charm, her books are written exactly the way she speaks, making them quite amusing!

To my dismay, I realized I was on the US GNC website. The Canadian one is terrible, likely because there isn’t any online ordering so they don’t really showcase many products. I called up my local Brentwood Town Centre GNC and asked if they carried the SkinnyGirl product line. “The what?” the moron on the other end of the phone said. I take that as a no. I wasn’t surprised at all as it’s brand new and obviously would be released in the US exclusively first. So, I called the Bellingham GNC. They thankfully knew what I was talking about but it wouldn’t be hitting their shelves any time soon. I was told it’s in demand (because it’s new) and there are some limitations to getting it in every GNC across America.

Now, I was obsessed with getting it. If I can’t have something, I want it even more. Let me take a moment to clarify that I by no means believe this product is going to be the answer to everyone’s weight loss prayers. A cleanse is a cleanse. It can only assist you so much. However, being a huge fan of Bethenny’s and having some confidence in the products she’d choose to put her name on, I was quite intrigued.

So, I took to ordering it online. I ordered a 30 packet set of her Daily Cleanse green lemonade and 120 capsules of Weight Management & Energy pills and had it shipped to my US address in Blaine. Should arrive within 6-10 business days. I am really hoping the products are not entirely useless because they are not cheap. The above were $110 total. I’m never an internet orderer/ money waster so I am definitely a bit anxious about my purchase but at the end of the day, I tried it and it wasn’t like I wasted thousands of dollars if I’m not happy with it.

This, combined with a new meal plan, some exercise (yoga, seawall rollerblading, walks) incorporated and some infrared sauna time here and there should hopefully make a difference. I am doing this as a 40 day “challenge” and am hoping to report some successful weight loss after the 40 days have passed. If I don’t lose any weight, don’t expect to hear back from me! Haha JUST KIDDING!

But seriously, now I need to be accountable so… hopefully as I board my plane for my California trip May 22 I’ll be traveling a bit lighter ;)

So, stay tuned for my next post about the miracle known as the SkinnyGirl cleanse line…or not!?

Best Nail Polish Remover EVER!

There is no need to spend $15 on professional quality nail polish remover. Sally Hansen Salon Strength does the trick for no more than $4.99. It will remove dark, rich colours instantly. There is no rubbing involved (except just to get the sides of the nail). One swipe and even black will come right off. It does not spread it around all over your skin, nor does it burn or smell horrid. If you wear nail polish often, and change it every 3 days like me, this is what you need. Enough said.

Laser Eye Surgery

This is a short post but I thought I'd write about it because it is consuming my life right now. I am SO excited about this, you have no idea. I have suffered for years with dryness and feel like every grain of sand from the sahara desert is in my eyes! I don't enjoy wearing glasses and sometimes they give me a headache. Not to mention if I'm wearing glasses, I can't wear sunglasses. I love sylish sunglasses so no, prescription ones are just not an option.

I recently went for an eye exam and was given some daily disposables to try. I thought they were great at first but I often couldn't tell which way was the right way to put them in (no 123 was on them), they were flimsy and I could feel them in my eyes. Bi-weekly disposables dry out towards the end of the day and it just seems to be getting worse. All of the sudden I just can't tolerate them.

I said I would NEVER get laser eye surgery. I don't know why I formulated this opinion, or when. I think it's because I hear of so many people around me getting it. It is so common. I've changed my mind. Everyone I spoke to that has had some form of the surgery (about 15 different people) have praised it. Not one bad thing to say. They say it's the best thing they have ever done in their life and their only regret was not doing it sooner. So, am I fool!? Why do I need to suffer any longer?

I hope I am a candidate for the surgery because after making the big decision to do it, it would be very disappointing to not be able to. I was considering financing it because it's a lot of money for me to come up with in a short time, but then my generous parents offered to pay for it. No stress about how much it costs, and positive feedback - no more reasons not to do it.

Because I'm nuts I have consultations at 4 different offices. I picked the 4 that I got the best feedback from. I am hoping that I get consistent information so I don't get confused. I am assuming whomever I feel most comfortable/ confident with, I will go with (providing I can have the surgery). Some of them are quite a bit more expensive than others so that may be a factor. I am looking forward to doing a review of all 4 places after I go to them.

So, I'm anxious and if I can get it done, I want it as soon as possible! My first consult is on Monday, the last one on April 12th. Who knows, I may not need all 4. So, I'm just chilling in my glasses (can't wear them for a week before the appointment) and waiting for Monday! I'm really hoping I can have a choice as to which surgery I can have. I am assuming I'll be a candidate for one of them, I'd just like some options. I'm a bit afraid of PRK because of the healing time and pain but it has it's benefits too. We'll see....or maybe I won't
:( HA!

So, until then.... eeeekkkk!!!

Bikram - Because I'm the Expert...

NOT! However, I can offer some insight into this torturous "zen experience."

I went several times last year, and then got lazy and just stopped. I went again yesterday after a very long hiatus and let me tell you, it was great!

Okay, it wasn't great in the usual sense of the word. It was HOT, painful, sickening, difficult, uncomfortable, crippling, and awkward. However, after leaving the studio following my 90 minute Bikram yoga session, I had never felt better. I felt like I had really accomplished something. I can't wait to go back yet I dread it, all at the same time. It's the strangest sensation ever to love something yet despise it.

I have been getting some severe tension headaches due to stress. Work has got me down without even realizing it! I have very low energy, am packing on the pounds and just generally feel like a pile of shit. I'm not eating very well, my face is breaking out, my back hurts along with my head, and I feel like I'm walking around with my fists and teeth clenched, ready to kill someone. STRESS. Why am I stressed? Who the hell knows. My life certainly is far from difficult. Stress affects you in ways you'd never acknowledge until something happens (ie these terrible headaches). I'm only 26 and have a long way to go so this needs to be addressed a-sap.

So, it was time for some lifestyle changes and some goal making. Getting back into the swing of things was one of them. It is very obvious to me that I won't ever be hitting the inside of a gym although I could certainly use it. So, the alternative is yoga. I also look forward to my seawall walks and rollerblades but the weather needs to perk up, just a tad. Justin and I (although he doesn't know this yet) are also planning to do some hikes and possibly the grind once the weather is better. Although I'm not very outdoorsy, this is the only type of activity I can handle. I may also dabble in Aquafit (stop laughing) but that is yet to be determined. One thing at a time!

My massage therapist also suggested a steamroom. Apparently there is a great one at the Mount Pleasant Community Centre. $5 drop in, even once a week is worth it to release stress, loosen muscles and joints, clear the skin, and even speed up the metabolism.

I digress (I do that a lot). Nothing can prepare you for Bikram the first time. If you know nothing about Bikram, have never done any type of yoga or aren't particularly active, God help you. Well, that was me the first time and God did not help me. He laughed at me. I couldn't believe people would subject themselves to this willingly. I thought this the whole class as I felt sorry for myself but when it was over, I got it. It was worth it. Aside from blacking out and literally seeing stars, it was very exhilarating. It was an opportunity to put everything aside and focus. There is no shame in the class and no one is ever looking at you thinking "she looks fat in Lululemon" or "she's really bad at this." No one cares about you and you don't care about them. You barely have enough in you to care about yourself. Everyone is encouraging and supportive, never judgemental.

Give it a try. You will curse my name the entire time if you take my advice but when it's over, I'm confident you will realize the benefits.

**You must be well hydrated before going. Catch 22 is, don't drink too much RIGHT before the class. Once you're in the room, you cannot leave. Well, you can but it is highly discouraged (disrupting the morale of the class) and is frowned upon (seriously). Therefore, no pee breaks. You can drink while you're in there so bring lots of water. At least a litre. If you drink a lot of water, you shouldn't have any problems. If you don't, start a few days before to get your body properly hydrated. It is very important to drink a lot of water after the class or else you will end up with a hangover-like headache that lasts the entire day/night. Eat decently a few hours before going. You can't stuff yourself nor can you do it after a day of starving yourself. You'll pass out. If you're sick, stay away. Coughing will be disruptive and because of the heat, you will sniffle and need to blow your nose every 5 seconds.

Wear as little clothing as possible. You will drench anything cotton so proper yoga wear really is beneficial. If you run, any dri-fit products will help. I like Luon (Lululemon) because aside from the fact that it is stylish and comfy, it was actually designed for this purpose!

Bikram is all over the greater Vancouver area. I go to the Metrotown location at Boundary and Kingsway. They have some great introductory rates - maybe I'll see you there. Message me with any questions you may have but trust me, I'm not a pro. People of all shapes, ages, races, and backgrounds go there. There are a surprising amount of older people there. They have likely sustained some sort of injury or are experiencing some type of pain associated with getting older (arthritis etc) and it has been suggested to them as a method of healing by friends, doctors, naturopaths etc.

There was an older gentlemen there last night. He was overweight, probably mid 50's and was the last person you'd think you'd find there. He did so well, he put me to shame. He was committed and put his mind to it and tried his best. He often stopped gasping for air. He needed help understanding the poses. Sometimes, he needed to lie down. Sometimes he'd be conservative about how far he could push himself. This is completely normal for the first time and I did the same when it was new to me. He got a round of applause at the end and he deserved it. If he can do it, we all can do it.

Dining at Home

Justin and I have started this little ritual of making a fabulous meal once a week. Some of you are thinking, "okay, big deal" but to us it is. Justin and I only get to spend Sunday and Monday evening together because we work opposite schedules. He eats dinner at work 5 nights a week (at a fine dining establishment, lucky bastard) and I eat not-so exciting food, all alone. Typically we used to make a decent meal or more than likely, would go out for dinner. Well, obviously that is costly so in an effort to spend some time in and save some $, I thought this would be something fun we could do. Afterall, it's more fun to go out on those beautiful summer nights instead of dreary, dark winter evenings.

I have been the one watching the cooking shows, planning menus, shopping, and executing the meals. Afterall, Justin can cook, I can't, and I figured it was about time I learned. Tonight, Justin is cooking.

As we speak (rather, as I type) he is preparing the following:

• Goat cheese and red beet mixed greens in a garlic, chardonnay vinaigrette
• Coconut marinated seared scallops, with a red pepper foam
• Proscuitto-wrapped bocconcini, baked & topped with a blueberry icewine reduction
• Teriyaki marinated, grilled 8oz filet mignon
• 4oz grilled rock lobster tail
• A bottle of bold red, to be decided. (likely Sandhill 2 or Napa's Canonball)

Seems extreme but also SO delicious. I am very much looking forward to it! Now, I stick to my belief that eating at home isn't always a "cheap" option, especially if you don't have a lot of the basics on hand. Although this isn't a "cheap" meal by any means, let's do a comparison.

Based on a few restaurants we've been to, I can confidently price this meal, for 2 at approximately $350 with tax and tip.

To buy all of the stuff required (aside from basic marinade ingredients etc) this meal cost me $85 to purchase at the grocery store/ liquor store.

That's a bit more reasonable, eh?

Oh! Justin just said course #1 is ready! Gotta gooooooooooo...  :)

Nota Bene

Nota Bene is Latin for "Take Note." That is exactly what you do after trying this wine for the first time. Not only do you take note, but you revel in amazement at how wonderful this wine is. Many wine lovers and industry peeps know about this wine but a lot of the general public does not.

It is of course called Nota Bene and is produced by Black Hills Winery in Osoyoos.  Brandon Walsh from 90210 (Jason Priestley) is part owner of the joint.
It is a big, bold bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc.

This wine has a cult-like following and is constantly sold out. The winery does not accept walk-in clientele like the majority of their counterparts in wine country and only the finest restaurants in Vancouver are worthy enough to sell it. It is not sold in BC Liquor stores. It is sold at a select few specialty wine shops. I will take this opportunity to plug Everything Wine. They have an enormous location in North Van across from Capilano Mall, one in Morgan Crossing, Surrey, and one in Victoria (and of course, they stock Nota Bene). I absolutely love this wine shop. It is huge and carries hard to find selections, they have an extensive "vintage" room where rare, expensive wines are kept and they do free tastings everyday from 2-6pm. More to come about them though in a future blog, as I digress...

The winery itself may allow you to come in (if you show up and have a sad look on your face) to let you buy their other wines that are in stock. The others aren't anything to write home about but, still good. They aren't particularly friendly people, do not offer tastings of what they still have in stock and the winery itself isn't very nice. Oh, and Nota Bene is one of the most expensive bottles you'll find in the Okanagan. THAT all being said, and at $60 a bottle, you must be wondering, "why the hell bother?" Well my friends, all I can say is "because it's that good!" It's worth the ordeal and price. Once you try it, you will be hooked.

Now, this isn't your everyday wine. If you are really trying to impress someone (a wine lover because someone who knows little about wine really won't appreciate it) or are having a really special occasion, buy a bottle. If you are out at a restaurant that sells it, expect to pay $110-$130 a bottle. Yes, this is pricy. Against it's popular Mission Hill Oculus counterpart though, there is some competition. Oculus retails slightly higher but in my opinion, Nota Bene is slightly better. Oculus is a similar style blend including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot. Who am I kidding though - it's hard to pick one over the other so do yourself a favour and just buy both! If you've tried them, which is your fav?